The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration awarded prestigious Pugsley Medals to three park and recreation leaders: Pete Dangermond of Newcastle, California; Roger K. Brown of Greensboro, North Carolina; and Joe Crookham of Oscaloosa, Iowa. The Honorable Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medals recognize outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of public parks in the United States.

For more than four decades, Dangermond has worked diligently in acquiring and protecting land for park systems, land trusts, state conservancies, and various governmental jurisdictions through purchases, conservation easements, and dedications. During Brown’s 38 active years in the field of parks and recreation, he served as the director of seven park and recreation departments and developed a new district for a large urbanized and unincorporated area in Clackamas County, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. Owner and founder of Musco Lighting, Joe Crookham is a well-known advocate for parks and recreation and pioneered technology to allow lighted recreational sports facilities to be more compatible in residential areas. He also sponsors the national Gold Medal Awards for excellence in parks and recreation.

The Pugsley Award is presented by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, in partnership with the National Park Foundation and the Davey Tree Expert Company. More complete biographies and more information on the Pugsley Award, its history, and a complete list of winners are available on the academy’s website.